據彭博社4月8日報道，隨著鉆井公司削減開支和鉆探計劃，2021年美國天然氣產量預計將以有史以來創紀錄的速度下降。

美國能源信息署(EIA)表示，2021年天然氣產量將下降4.4%，至平均944.9億立方英尺/天。這將是1998年以來最大的年度下跌幅度。該機構還預計，2020年的天然氣產量也將下滑。

由于天然氣預期將出現減產，價格已經開始走高。在德克薩斯州和新墨西哥州的二疊紀盆地等地區，天然氣作為石油鉆探的副產品被開采出來。不過，天然氣需求預計也會受到影響。EIA稱，明年的消費量將下降3.2%，為2003年以來的最大降幅。

自3月6日以來，1月份的天然氣期貨價格已經上漲了15%，天然氣生產商的股價也有所上漲。

洪偉立 摘譯自 彭博社

原文如下：

U.S. Natural Gas Output Expected to Fall by Most Ever Next Year

Natural gas production in the U.S. is expected to drop by the fastest pace ever in 2021 as drillers slash spending in response to the coronavirus pandemic that’s sending oil prices to historic lows.

Gas output is poised to fall by 4.4% to average 94.49 billion cubic feet a day next year, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook Tuesday. That would be the biggest annual retreat in data going back to 1998. The agency also expects production to slip this year instead of climbing to a record.

The sharp revision is a reflection of “the unprecedented effects of COVID-19 on the level of drilling activity as many producers have already announced plans to reduce capital spending and drilling levels,” the EIA said in the report.

Gas prices have already been strengthening in anticipation of production cuts. The fuel is extracted as a byproduct of oil drilling in places like the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico, where shale explorers are pulling back after the crash in crude prices. Gas demand is also expected to take a hit, however. Consumption is poised to drop 3.2% next year, the most since 2003, EIA said.

January gas futures have jumped 15% since March 6 as oil prices plunged on demand destruction from the virus and a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. Shares of gas producers have also climbed.